after-avenging-hours

[after-avenging-hours]

Thank you for the Incubus love! ❤️❤️❤️ I hope you enjoy this series too!

Heart Skip [17]: Steve Rogers x Reader

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Female!Reader

Series Summary:  A soulmate AU where from the moment you are born, two partners share a heartbeat.  They race in times of joy, slow in times of sadness, and they skip at the same moment. They share every big emotion, including heartbreak. Based on this post

Word Count: 3838

Author's Note: So... it's literally been 5 years since part 16 came out. Not sure if anyone still cares about this series, but I really wanted to do it justice and give it the proper ending it deserves, so here's to the ones that have been waiting for this story's happily ever after. Thanks for sticking around. 🍸

Warnings: Angsty beginning, happy ending, couple quarrel, apologies, some swearing, fluff

Heart Skip / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 /  Part 9 / Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 /  Part 13 / Part 14 / Part 15 / Part 16 / [Part 17] / Epilogue

The silence that filled the apartment wasn’t peaceful. It was heavy. Weighted. Tense. Like the seconds after the pin to a grenade has been pulled, but before the explosion. Like the quiet between each tick of the clock. The kind of silence where you can’t tell what comes next, but you know it will change the very foundations of your world when it arrives.

Steve doesn’t know how long he’s been sitting in the silence. He’s been shot, stabbed, thrown off of buildings…  But none of that hurts as much as this.  There’s nothing more soul-crushing than knowing that someone you love is in pain, and that you’re the cause of it. He didn’t mean to order you around like a subordinate. He doesn’t even know why he did it. He’s never thought of you as anything other than his equal. His other half. The person who kept him sane in a world that was anything but.

His muscles ache in protest when he moves to get up from the kitchen floor. The half-prepped ingredients for dinner are still scattered on the counter. He barely spares them a glance as he steps toward the hallway. He stands before the bedroom door, hand ready to knock, but he stops just short of the wood. He hears a short sniffle and stuttered breath on the other side. He feels his throat tighten and his nails dig into his palm. After a steadying breath, he finally knocks. “Can I come in?”

He hears the sound of rustling against bedsheets, but there’s no other response. He sighs and tries the handle. It turns and opens. He braces himself for what he might find on the other side and then steps through. You’re curled up on the bed with your back to the door. You’re clutching a pillow to your chest, with your knees pulled in tight. There’s a small pile of used tissues near your face. You don’t turn to face him, just curl into yourself even tighter.

He moves into the room cautiously, like he’s approaching an injured animal. He kneels at the side of the bed, arms folded on the edge of the mattress. “Can we talk?” His voice is quiet, careful. Still, you don’t respond. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” his voice breaks on the words, unable to bear the weight of his emotions.

“Do you know what Fury told me while you were infiltrating SHIELD?” you ask hollowly. You don’t wait for a response before continuing. “He said the best place for me is out of the way, where I can’t get hurt, and where I won’t jeopardize the mission.”

You hear his sharp inhale and release your own shuddering breath.

“I don’t know how to be Captain America’s soulmate. I don’t have super strength or superpowers. I can’t fly. I can barely fight... Literally every person we’ve met since we woke up has only ever seen me as your greatest liability.” Your voice cracks, and another tear runs over the bridge of your nose and across your cheek. “Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? To know that when people look at me, instead of seeing a person, they see a target on your back? Not a soulmate, but a fucking kill switch?”

“That’s…” he starts, but his voice trails off. How the hell did he have no idea that this was what you were feeling? That this was how others were making you feel?

You keep going. “And I know what you’re doing is important. I get it. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be some bird locked in a cage for safekeeping. Or a doll left on a shelf because someone else is scared that I’ll break. I want to be with you. I want to be useful. I want to help. But how do I do that without putting you in danger every time I step out of the house?”

You feel the bed dip behind you moments before Steve’s body curls around your back. His arm wraps around your waist, holding you against his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”

You release a choked sob, another tear slipping from your eye. “Because I was scared that you’d say it was true.”

“It’s not,” he insists, arm tightening against you. “Sweetheart, it’s not true. You’re not a danger to me. You’re not some exploitable weakness. You’re the source of my strength. You’re the reason I fight. You make everything worth it. I go out there every day, not because I have a death wish or want to go looking for trouble, but because I need to protect the only world that has you in it. I want to keep you safe, not by locking you away, but by stopping the people who might threaten you before they ever get the chance to do it. I want you to be free to do whatever makes you happy. Not locked in a cage. Not making yourself smaller to fit in some box. I want you shining like the sun, because that’s when you’re the most beautiful.”

Your breath still shakes when you exhale, but it’s a steadying breath. You reach for another tissue to blow your nose, then turn within Steve’s hold until you’re facing him. You look up through wet lashes to meet his stormy blue gaze. His brow is pinched with concern, but his eyes are clear, honest, and open. “So, how exactly do we do this?” you ask, your voice careful, your hopes fragile.

His hand moves to cup your cheek, thumb swiping gently over tear-strained cheeks. “We do this together.” He leans in close and places a kiss on your forehead. “If I’m going to be out there protecting the world, then I’m going to need you to protect me.”

You scoff and look at him dubiously. “How on earth am I supposed to protect you. You’re the super soldier.”

His grin is soft, but it’s also devastatingly beautiful. “You already do it every day. Just by being you. Just by being here with me. By loving me, and letting me love you back. You’re not just my soulmate. You’re my partner, my rock, my hopes and dreams. You mean everything to me. And if I ever made you doubt that, even for a second, then I’m so fucking sorry.”

Your heart skips a beat at the swear. You know he’s perfectly capable of swearing, but he usually only reserves it for when it’s truly called for. Only when the situation is dire enough. Him using that sort of language right now is just further proof regarding how serious he is.

“Just being with you keeps me grounded and focused. Feeling your heart skip and hearing your laugh gets me out of bed in the morning. You protect me mentally just by existing. And then, as for physically protecting me…” His grin turns a little cheeky. “I’m gonna need a new uniform.”

His final comment catches you so off guard that you release a short burst of laughter. “You can’t be serious,” you mutter between giggles.

His smile turns relieved. “I’m completely serious. Your suits have always kept me safe.”

You arch a brow. “That last one sure didn’t.”

He chuckles quietly. “That last one was supposed to be hanging on a mannequin.”

Your eyes narrow accusingly. “Yeah, that’s what I said when you asked for it. And did you heed my warnings? No.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” He kisses you on the nose with his apology. “I’ll let you control my entire wardrobe from now on, if it’ll help. You can wrap me up in bubble wrap for the rest of our lives, and I’ll happily let you.”

You roll your eyes and shake your head, but there’s a hint of the smile you’re trying to fight at the corner of your lips. “Somehow, I get the feeling that bubble wrap alone isn’t going to cut it.”

His grin widens. “So, what do you say? Think you’re up to the task of protecting your soulmate while he tries to protect the rest of the world?”

You’re quiet for a long moment, absorbing everything that’s been said. Your eyes roam all over his face, from his full lips to his high cheekbones, the curve of his brow to his ridiculously long lashes. You settle back on his eyes and note the trust and vulnerability that you see in them. You already know what decision you’re going to make, but you still take the time to think it over. Your answer is going to change the course of your life, so it’s not a decision that can be made lightly. Finally, your lips part right before you begin to speak. “I want to finish the semester at my school before we move to New York.”

Steve releases the breath he had been holding and nods. “Deal.”

“And I want you to start keeping me in the loop on your missions. I understand that I might not have clearance for everything you do, but if you’re knowingly walking into a dangerous situation, I don’t want to be left in the dark. If you’re not under radio silence, I want you to check in.”

He nods again. “You got it.”

“I want to keep training with Nat. I doubt I’ll ever be Black Widow good, but if anything ever does happen and worst comes to worst, I want to be able to handle the situation without having to fully rely on you or the others.”

He chuckles at that. “I’m sure Nat would be thrilled. I’m pretty sure she likes you even more than she likes me.”

You smile briefly at his words before your face turns solemn once more. "Lastly, I want us to revisit the conversation about our future together. We don’t need to make any decisions right now, but I need you to know that I still want those things. I want to get married, buy a house, and have children. I haven’t given up on those things just because we’re in a different time and place. I can be patient, I don’t need it now, but… do you think we could still have that? Someday?”

His eyes flicker between yours, his gaze soft and warm. “Yeah, Sweetheart. We can have that. I don’t know how long it will take, but if you’re okay with waiting for me, I’ll find a way for us to get there.”

When you smile, it feels like the sun peaking out behind the clouds after days of endless rain. You lift a hand and place it delicately against the side of his neck, your thumb gently tracing the edge of his jaw. “I love you, Steve.”

His breath leaves him in a choked gasp, like his heart is so full that there’s not enough room in his chest for air. “I love you, too.” His arms pull you even tighter against him, wrapping you in a cocoon of warmth.

You pull his face to yours and slant your lips across his. He kisses back fervently, pouring all the raw emotion and love that he feels for you into it. He holds you like you’re his anchor to this plane of existence. His hand traces down your side, fingers grazing over the familiar dip of your waist and swell of your hips. He grips the back of your thigh and lifts your knee up and over the side of his own hip, then shifts forward to slot himself between the opening of your legs.

You whimper against his mouth before pulling away with a gasping breath. “Steve… as appealing as makeup sex sounds, I’d really rather we not do it next to my pile of used tissues.”

His cheeks flush with embarrassment, which only adds to his puppy dog look. “Oh, right…”

You laugh girlishly at your adorable soulmate. “Also, I’m kind of starving.”

He smiles back. “Well, we can’t have that. Let me order some takeout. It’ll probably be a lot faster than whatever mess I left in the kitchen.”

“Oooh! Can we get those crispy coconut shrimp rolls from that one Hawaiian place? And also those mango pork sliders! Ooo, and a basket of sweet potato fries with the special sauce.”

Steve's eyes glow with humor as he looks down at you. “Anything else?”

Your cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. “No, just whatever you want. You can have some of my fries, but you better get your own coconut shrimp rolls.”

He laughs and gives you one last kiss before sitting up and shuffling off the bed. “I’ll call the order in right now.”

“Thank you!” you call after his retreating figure. He flashes one last grin over his shoulder before disappearing out the door. You push yourself up with a soft groan of protest and look around the bedroom that’s been your home for roughly the last two years. You know you’ll always cherish the memories that were created in this room, but now that you’ve had this talk with Steve, you’re starting to look forward to moving back to New York with him. You know the city won’t be the same anymore, but you’re looking forward to exploring it together with Steve. You have no idea what exactly the future has in store for the two of you, but it’s so much easier to face the unknown when you’re not doing it alone.

As soon as your classes have finished for the semester, you and Steve are in full packing mode. Boxes are stacked on just about every surface and are shoved into the corners of every room. Rolls of fabrics and sewing supplies fill the majority of your boxes, while books and vinyl records fill Steve’s. He’s currently going through the kitchen, wrapping your ceramic mugs in paper before carefully layering them in a box. You’ve just finished going through the closet, packing your and Steve’s clothes into different suitcases, plastic bins, and even more boxes.

You release a long sigh while stretching out your sore back muscles. Looking around the room, you try to figure out what you want to tackle next. Your eyes land on your bedside drawer. You use a Sharpie to write out on a new box what you’re putting into it before folding the cardboard and taping the bottom. You empty out both drawers into the box, rather unceremoniously. The top drawer contains a spare phone charger, a couple of half-used ChapSticks, a jar of loose change, some fashionable neck scarves, and several other little knick-knacks that you honestly forgot were even in there. The bottom drawer contains some of the more risqué items that you own, which you shove into the box as quickly as possible, while your cheeks burst into flames, even though no one is around to even see them.

Once that’s done, you seal the box with tape, then get a second box ready and move to the table on Steve’s side of the bed. “Hey, Steve? I’m going to empty your bedside table!” you call out to him while kneeling in front of it.

“Okay!” he responds. You’ve already opened the top drawer and started moving items into the box when Steve calls out again. “No! Wait!” He dashes out of the kitchen and sprints down the hall, gripping the door frame as leverage to come flying into the room, but he’s too late. You’re already staring down at the small velvet box tucked into the back of the drawer.

For a moment, everything comes to a stop, like even time itself is holding its breath. You stare at the box, while he stares at you, both of your hearts pounding erratically, and you’re not sure who is the one responsible for it. Your hand shakes as you reach for the box. You lift it out of the drawer, holding it with such care, it makes his chest ache. “Is this—” you begin to ask before your voice cracks. You turn and look at him from over your shoulder.

“Exactly what you think it is?” His shoulders drop in defeat, but the corner of his mouth lifts into a tilted smile. “Yeah,” he confirms.

Your breath catches in your throat. “How long have you had this?” Your thumb swipes over the velvet, feeling the smooth material rub against the pad of your finger.

He clears his throat, ears turning pink. “About a month before the battle at the Triskelion.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I was waiting for the right time to ask, but then after we had that argument, I was worried you’d think I was only asking because of what you said, so I figured I’d wait some more. But then I wasn’t sure how long was long enough to wait, and I almost asked you several times, but it never really felt like the right moment—”

“You can ask me now,” you cut into his rambling with a tentative smile.

“I—what?” he looks at you with wide eyes, guard completely dropped. His heart skips a beat, and you feel it in your chest.

Your eyes glow with amusement. You stand and step closer to him, holding the box out.

He takes it, eyes flashing between it and you repeatedly. “Now? Like right now?”

You giggle as he only gets more flustered. “Do you want to marry me?”

He coughs awkwardly, his entire face turning red at this point. “I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be my line.”

“Then ask, Steve.”

He takes your hand in his and narrows his eyes into an accusatory glare. “You know, I had a plan. I was going to take you to a nice restaurant, there was going to be chocolate and flowers, maybe dancing.” As he speaks, he’s slowly dropping down to one knee. “You’re really missing out.”

You’re grinning from ear to ear, eyes full of affection and warmth. “I don’t think I’m missing anything.”

Steve is suddenly grateful that he’s already kneeling, because those words alone were enough to turn his legs to jelly. However, they also seem to have turned his mind completely blank. “I had an entire speech planned, but now that we’re here, I can’t remember what any of it is.” He stares up at you with all the wonder of a child seeing fireworks for the first time. “All I know is that the heart in my chest beats for you. It beats because of you. I love you more than I thought was even possible. You see me in a way no one else ever did. You are truly my soulmate in every sense of the word. You make me a better person, and you call me out when I’m being an idiot. I need you like I need air to breathe or blood in my veins. I want to spend every day of the rest of our lives finding new ways to make you smile. So, what do you say? Will you marry me?”

He flips up the lid of the box, revealing a gorgeous princess-cut engagement ring with a glittering white diamond set against delicate filigree. It’s elegant, and timeless, and utterly perfect.

“Yes…” The single word barely comes out of your tightening throat, but he hears it just fine. He pulls the ring out of the box and slips it onto your finger. You crumple to your knees in front of him, arms wrapping around his neck. He wraps one arm around your waist, the other cradling the back of your head, while he kisses you breathless. “I love you,” you whisper against his lips.

“I’m going to make you mine forever,” he vows.

Your laugh tickles his cheeks. “You’re already my forever.”

Seven months later, you’re walking down the aisle of a small chapel in Brooklyn, wearing a dress you designed and made yourself, toward the man whose heart beats in your chest. Sam stands to his left, grinning broadly, and gives you a wink as you step up to the altar. Natasha takes your bouquet and stands behind you as you hold Steve’s hand in yours and promise yourself to him for all of eternity. The other Avengers and a few trusted friends fill the pews to bear witness to the love that has surpassed time itself.

They’ve all fully accepted you as part of the team. You’re now the official designer of all of their uniforms. Even Tony had been impressed by the care and attention to detail you put into your work, so he told Pepper about you, and now she’s giving you entrepreneur lessons and is backing your new fashion line as an investor. You named your business Heart Skip Apparel and have both a vintage-inspired line and an activewear line. Your activewear became an overnight sensation after a video of Natasha wearing your sports bra and leggings while jogging through Central Park went viral online. You had no idea that moving back to New York was going to result in such a wild outcome, but you don’t regret it. And Steve was there with you every step of the way, encouraging you to try new things and jump right in.

He lifts your veil and looks at you with so much love and adoration, you feel it all the way down to your toes. As the two of you are pronounced husband and wife, your heart skips a beat, and you smile when you feel his skip in response. He leans in and seals your vows with the first kiss of many that you’ll share with your husband. You don’t even hear the claps and cheers from your friends, because you’re so lost in him.

Across the street from the chapel, a lone figure watches the event through a scope from a shadowed window. The soft smile on his face feels foreign, but nice. “Congratulations, Punk,” he speaks softly to the empty room. He knew that Steve would have preferred to have him standing up at the altar with him, but this was the closest Bucky would allow himself to get right now. He was still struggling to piece together fractions of memories and bring some semblance of control back into his own grasp. He was slowly learning how to be Bucky Barnes again instead of The Asset, but there were still things he needed to do before he could allow himself to re-enter Steve’s life. First and foremost, he needed to track down and get back his own soulmate from the shattered remains of HYDRA. He’d only recently gotten a lead that Jack Rollins had taken her to Romania. By tomorrow morning, he was planning to be on the first flight out using a false passport and name. He wishes you and Steve the best possible future, but he’s got his own future to run toward.

[End of Main Story Line]

You can read about Bucky and his soulmate in Heartbeat

Heart Skip epilogue coming soon

[after-avenging-hours]

Ahhhhh! Thank you for coming back and checking on this series again! I'm so sorry you had to wait so long for the end, but we finally did it! They made it through the hard part and came out the other side 🙌

Heart Skip [17]: Steve Rogers x Reader

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Female!Reader

Series Summary:  A soulmate AU where from the moment you are born, two partners share a heartbeat.  They race in times of joy, slow in times of sadness, and they skip at the same moment. They share every big emotion, including heartbreak. Based on this post

Word Count: 3838

Author's Note: So... it's literally been 5 years since part 16 came out. Not sure if anyone still cares about this series, but I really wanted to do it justice and give it the proper ending it deserves, so here's to the ones that have been waiting for this story's happily ever after. Thanks for sticking around. 🍸

Warnings: Angsty beginning, happy ending, couple quarrel, apologies, some swearing, fluff

Heart Skip / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 /  Part 9 / Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 /  Part 13 / Part 14 / Part 15 / Part 16 / [Part 17] / Epilogue

The silence that filled the apartment wasn’t peaceful. It was heavy. Weighted. Tense. Like the seconds after the pin to a grenade has been pulled, but before the explosion. Like the quiet between each tick of the clock. The kind of silence where you can’t tell what comes next, but you know it will change the very foundations of your world when it arrives.

Steve doesn’t know how long he’s been sitting in the silence. He’s been shot, stabbed, thrown off of buildings…  But none of that hurts as much as this.  There’s nothing more soul-crushing than knowing that someone you love is in pain, and that you’re the cause of it. He didn’t mean to order you around like a subordinate. He doesn’t even know why he did it. He’s never thought of you as anything other than his equal. His other half. The person who kept him sane in a world that was anything but.

His muscles ache in protest when he moves to get up from the kitchen floor. The half-prepped ingredients for dinner are still scattered on the counter. He barely spares them a glance as he steps toward the hallway. He stands before the bedroom door, hand ready to knock, but he stops just short of the wood. He hears a short sniffle and stuttered breath on the other side. He feels his throat tighten and his nails dig into his palm. After a steadying breath, he finally knocks. “Can I come in?”

He hears the sound of rustling against bedsheets, but there’s no other response. He sighs and tries the handle. It turns and opens. He braces himself for what he might find on the other side and then steps through. You’re curled up on the bed with your back to the door. You’re clutching a pillow to your chest, with your knees pulled in tight. There’s a small pile of used tissues near your face. You don’t turn to face him, just curl into yourself even tighter.

He moves into the room cautiously, like he’s approaching an injured animal. He kneels at the side of the bed, arms folded on the edge of the mattress. “Can we talk?” His voice is quiet, careful. Still, you don’t respond. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” his voice breaks on the words, unable to bear the weight of his emotions.

“Do you know what Fury told me while you were infiltrating SHIELD?” you ask hollowly. You don’t wait for a response before continuing. “He said the best place for me is out of the way, where I can’t get hurt, and where I won’t jeopardize the mission.”

You hear his sharp inhale and release your own shuddering breath.

“I don’t know how to be Captain America’s soulmate. I don’t have super strength or superpowers. I can’t fly. I can barely fight... Literally every person we’ve met since we woke up has only ever seen me as your greatest liability.” Your voice cracks, and another tear runs over the bridge of your nose and across your cheek. “Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? To know that when people look at me, instead of seeing a person, they see a target on your back? Not a soulmate, but a fucking kill switch?”

“That’s…” he starts, but his voice trails off. How the hell did he have no idea that this was what you were feeling? That this was how others were making you feel?

You keep going. “And I know what you’re doing is important. I get it. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be some bird locked in a cage for safekeeping. Or a doll left on a shelf because someone else is scared that I’ll break. I want to be with you. I want to be useful. I want to help. But how do I do that without putting you in danger every time I step out of the house?”

You feel the bed dip behind you moments before Steve’s body curls around your back. His arm wraps around your waist, holding you against his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”

You release a choked sob, another tear slipping from your eye. “Because I was scared that you’d say it was true.”

“It’s not,” he insists, arm tightening against you. “Sweetheart, it’s not true. You’re not a danger to me. You’re not some exploitable weakness. You’re the source of my strength. You’re the reason I fight. You make everything worth it. I go out there every day, not because I have a death wish or want to go looking for trouble, but because I need to protect the only world that has you in it. I want to keep you safe, not by locking you away, but by stopping the people who might threaten you before they ever get the chance to do it. I want you to be free to do whatever makes you happy. Not locked in a cage. Not making yourself smaller to fit in some box. I want you shining like the sun, because that’s when you’re the most beautiful.”

Your breath still shakes when you exhale, but it’s a steadying breath. You reach for another tissue to blow your nose, then turn within Steve’s hold until you’re facing him. You look up through wet lashes to meet his stormy blue gaze. His brow is pinched with concern, but his eyes are clear, honest, and open. “So, how exactly do we do this?” you ask, your voice careful, your hopes fragile.

His hand moves to cup your cheek, thumb swiping gently over tear-strained cheeks. “We do this together.” He leans in close and places a kiss on your forehead. “If I’m going to be out there protecting the world, then I’m going to need you to protect me.”

You scoff and look at him dubiously. “How on earth am I supposed to protect you. You’re the super soldier.”

His grin is soft, but it’s also devastatingly beautiful. “You already do it every day. Just by being you. Just by being here with me. By loving me, and letting me love you back. You’re not just my soulmate. You’re my partner, my rock, my hopes and dreams. You mean everything to me. And if I ever made you doubt that, even for a second, then I’m so fucking sorry.”

Your heart skips a beat at the swear. You know he’s perfectly capable of swearing, but he usually only reserves it for when it’s truly called for. Only when the situation is dire enough. Him using that sort of language right now is just further proof regarding how serious he is.

“Just being with you keeps me grounded and focused. Feeling your heart skip and hearing your laugh gets me out of bed in the morning. You protect me mentally just by existing. And then, as for physically protecting me…” His grin turns a little cheeky. “I’m gonna need a new uniform.”

His final comment catches you so off guard that you release a short burst of laughter. “You can’t be serious,” you mutter between giggles.

His smile turns relieved. “I’m completely serious. Your suits have always kept me safe.”

You arch a brow. “That last one sure didn’t.”

He chuckles quietly. “That last one was supposed to be hanging on a mannequin.”

Your eyes narrow accusingly. “Yeah, that’s what I said when you asked for it. And did you heed my warnings? No.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” He kisses you on the nose with his apology. “I’ll let you control my entire wardrobe from now on, if it’ll help. You can wrap me up in bubble wrap for the rest of our lives, and I’ll happily let you.”

You roll your eyes and shake your head, but there’s a hint of the smile you’re trying to fight at the corner of your lips. “Somehow, I get the feeling that bubble wrap alone isn’t going to cut it.”

His grin widens. “So, what do you say? Think you’re up to the task of protecting your soulmate while he tries to protect the rest of the world?”

You’re quiet for a long moment, absorbing everything that’s been said. Your eyes roam all over his face, from his full lips to his high cheekbones, the curve of his brow to his ridiculously long lashes. You settle back on his eyes and note the trust and vulnerability that you see in them. You already know what decision you’re going to make, but you still take the time to think it over. Your answer is going to change the course of your life, so it’s not a decision that can be made lightly. Finally, your lips part right before you begin to speak. “I want to finish the semester at my school before we move to New York.”

Steve releases the breath he had been holding and nods. “Deal.”

“And I want you to start keeping me in the loop on your missions. I understand that I might not have clearance for everything you do, but if you’re knowingly walking into a dangerous situation, I don’t want to be left in the dark. If you’re not under radio silence, I want you to check in.”

He nods again. “You got it.”

“I want to keep training with Nat. I doubt I’ll ever be Black Widow good, but if anything ever does happen and worst comes to worst, I want to be able to handle the situation without having to fully rely on you or the others.”

He chuckles at that. “I’m sure Nat would be thrilled. I’m pretty sure she likes you even more than she likes me.”

You smile briefly at his words before your face turns solemn once more. "Lastly, I want us to revisit the conversation about our future together. We don’t need to make any decisions right now, but I need you to know that I still want those things. I want to get married, buy a house, and have children. I haven’t given up on those things just because we’re in a different time and place. I can be patient, I don’t need it now, but… do you think we could still have that? Someday?”

His eyes flicker between yours, his gaze soft and warm. “Yeah, Sweetheart. We can have that. I don’t know how long it will take, but if you’re okay with waiting for me, I’ll find a way for us to get there.”

When you smile, it feels like the sun peaking out behind the clouds after days of endless rain. You lift a hand and place it delicately against the side of his neck, your thumb gently tracing the edge of his jaw. “I love you, Steve.”

His breath leaves him in a choked gasp, like his heart is so full that there’s not enough room in his chest for air. “I love you, too.” His arms pull you even tighter against him, wrapping you in a cocoon of warmth.

You pull his face to yours and slant your lips across his. He kisses back fervently, pouring all the raw emotion and love that he feels for you into it. He holds you like you’re his anchor to this plane of existence. His hand traces down your side, fingers grazing over the familiar dip of your waist and swell of your hips. He grips the back of your thigh and lifts your knee up and over the side of his own hip, then shifts forward to slot himself between the opening of your legs.

You whimper against his mouth before pulling away with a gasping breath. “Steve… as appealing as makeup sex sounds, I’d really rather we not do it next to my pile of used tissues.”

His cheeks flush with embarrassment, which only adds to his puppy dog look. “Oh, right…”

You laugh girlishly at your adorable soulmate. “Also, I’m kind of starving.”

He smiles back. “Well, we can’t have that. Let me order some takeout. It’ll probably be a lot faster than whatever mess I left in the kitchen.”

“Oooh! Can we get those crispy coconut shrimp rolls from that one Hawaiian place? And also those mango pork sliders! Ooo, and a basket of sweet potato fries with the special sauce.”

Steve's eyes glow with humor as he looks down at you. “Anything else?”

Your cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. “No, just whatever you want. You can have some of my fries, but you better get your own coconut shrimp rolls.”

He laughs and gives you one last kiss before sitting up and shuffling off the bed. “I’ll call the order in right now.”

“Thank you!” you call after his retreating figure. He flashes one last grin over his shoulder before disappearing out the door. You push yourself up with a soft groan of protest and look around the bedroom that’s been your home for roughly the last two years. You know you’ll always cherish the memories that were created in this room, but now that you’ve had this talk with Steve, you’re starting to look forward to moving back to New York with him. You know the city won’t be the same anymore, but you’re looking forward to exploring it together with Steve. You have no idea what exactly the future has in store for the two of you, but it’s so much easier to face the unknown when you’re not doing it alone.

As soon as your classes have finished for the semester, you and Steve are in full packing mode. Boxes are stacked on just about every surface and are shoved into the corners of every room. Rolls of fabrics and sewing supplies fill the majority of your boxes, while books and vinyl records fill Steve’s. He’s currently going through the kitchen, wrapping your ceramic mugs in paper before carefully layering them in a box. You’ve just finished going through the closet, packing your and Steve’s clothes into different suitcases, plastic bins, and even more boxes.

You release a long sigh while stretching out your sore back muscles. Looking around the room, you try to figure out what you want to tackle next. Your eyes land on your bedside drawer. You use a Sharpie to write out on a new box what you’re putting into it before folding the cardboard and taping the bottom. You empty out both drawers into the box, rather unceremoniously. The top drawer contains a spare phone charger, a couple of half-used ChapSticks, a jar of loose change, some fashionable neck scarves, and several other little knick-knacks that you honestly forgot were even in there. The bottom drawer contains some of the more risqué items that you own, which you shove into the box as quickly as possible, while your cheeks burst into flames, even though no one is around to even see them.

Once that’s done, you seal the box with tape, then get a second box ready and move to the table on Steve’s side of the bed. “Hey, Steve? I’m going to empty your bedside table!” you call out to him while kneeling in front of it.

“Okay!” he responds. You’ve already opened the top drawer and started moving items into the box when Steve calls out again. “No! Wait!” He dashes out of the kitchen and sprints down the hall, gripping the door frame as leverage to come flying into the room, but he’s too late. You’re already staring down at the small velvet box tucked into the back of the drawer.

For a moment, everything comes to a stop, like even time itself is holding its breath. You stare at the box, while he stares at you, both of your hearts pounding erratically, and you’re not sure who is the one responsible for it. Your hand shakes as you reach for the box. You lift it out of the drawer, holding it with such care, it makes his chest ache. “Is this—” you begin to ask before your voice cracks. You turn and look at him from over your shoulder.

“Exactly what you think it is?” His shoulders drop in defeat, but the corner of his mouth lifts into a tilted smile. “Yeah,” he confirms.

Your breath catches in your throat. “How long have you had this?” Your thumb swipes over the velvet, feeling the smooth material rub against the pad of your finger.

He clears his throat, ears turning pink. “About a month before the battle at the Triskelion.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I was waiting for the right time to ask, but then after we had that argument, I was worried you’d think I was only asking because of what you said, so I figured I’d wait some more. But then I wasn’t sure how long was long enough to wait, and I almost asked you several times, but it never really felt like the right moment—”

“You can ask me now,” you cut into his rambling with a tentative smile.

“I—what?” he looks at you with wide eyes, guard completely dropped. His heart skips a beat, and you feel it in your chest.

Your eyes glow with amusement. You stand and step closer to him, holding the box out.

He takes it, eyes flashing between it and you repeatedly. “Now? Like right now?”

You giggle as he only gets more flustered. “Do you want to marry me?”

He coughs awkwardly, his entire face turning red at this point. “I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be my line.”

“Then ask, Steve.”

He takes your hand in his and narrows his eyes into an accusatory glare. “You know, I had a plan. I was going to take you to a nice restaurant, there was going to be chocolate and flowers, maybe dancing.” As he speaks, he’s slowly dropping down to one knee. “You’re really missing out.”

You’re grinning from ear to ear, eyes full of affection and warmth. “I don’t think I’m missing anything.”

Steve is suddenly grateful that he’s already kneeling, because those words alone were enough to turn his legs to jelly. However, they also seem to have turned his mind completely blank. “I had an entire speech planned, but now that we’re here, I can’t remember what any of it is.” He stares up at you with all the wonder of a child seeing fireworks for the first time. “All I know is that the heart in my chest beats for you. It beats because of you. I love you more than I thought was even possible. You see me in a way no one else ever did. You are truly my soulmate in every sense of the word. You make me a better person, and you call me out when I’m being an idiot. I need you like I need air to breathe or blood in my veins. I want to spend every day of the rest of our lives finding new ways to make you smile. So, what do you say? Will you marry me?”

He flips up the lid of the box, revealing a gorgeous princess-cut engagement ring with a glittering white diamond set against delicate filigree. It’s elegant, and timeless, and utterly perfect.

“Yes…” The single word barely comes out of your tightening throat, but he hears it just fine. He pulls the ring out of the box and slips it onto your finger. You crumple to your knees in front of him, arms wrapping around his neck. He wraps one arm around your waist, the other cradling the back of your head, while he kisses you breathless. “I love you,” you whisper against his lips.

“I’m going to make you mine forever,” he vows.

Your laugh tickles his cheeks. “You’re already my forever.”

Seven months later, you’re walking down the aisle of a small chapel in Brooklyn, wearing a dress you designed and made yourself, toward the man whose heart beats in your chest. Sam stands to his left, grinning broadly, and gives you a wink as you step up to the altar. Natasha takes your bouquet and stands behind you as you hold Steve’s hand in yours and promise yourself to him for all of eternity. The other Avengers and a few trusted friends fill the pews to bear witness to the love that has surpassed time itself.

They’ve all fully accepted you as part of the team. You’re now the official designer of all of their uniforms. Even Tony had been impressed by the care and attention to detail you put into your work, so he told Pepper about you, and now she’s giving you entrepreneur lessons and is backing your new fashion line as an investor. You named your business Heart Skip Apparel and have both a vintage-inspired line and an activewear line. Your activewear became an overnight sensation after a video of Natasha wearing your sports bra and leggings while jogging through Central Park went viral online. You had no idea that moving back to New York was going to result in such a wild outcome, but you don’t regret it. And Steve was there with you every step of the way, encouraging you to try new things and jump right in.

He lifts your veil and looks at you with so much love and adoration, you feel it all the way down to your toes. As the two of you are pronounced husband and wife, your heart skips a beat, and you smile when you feel his skip in response. He leans in and seals your vows with the first kiss of many that you’ll share with your husband. You don’t even hear the claps and cheers from your friends, because you’re so lost in him.

Across the street from the chapel, a lone figure watches the event through a scope from a shadowed window. The soft smile on his face feels foreign, but nice. “Congratulations, Punk,” he speaks softly to the empty room. He knew that Steve would have preferred to have him standing up at the altar with him, but this was the closest Bucky would allow himself to get right now. He was still struggling to piece together fractions of memories and bring some semblance of control back into his own grasp. He was slowly learning how to be Bucky Barnes again instead of The Asset, but there were still things he needed to do before he could allow himself to re-enter Steve’s life. First and foremost, he needed to track down and get back his own soulmate from the shattered remains of HYDRA. He’d only recently gotten a lead that Jack Rollins had taken her to Romania. By tomorrow morning, he was planning to be on the first flight out using a false passport and name. He wishes you and Steve the best possible future, but he’s got his own future to run toward.

[End of Main Story Line]

You can read about Bucky and his soulmate in Heartbeat

Heart Skip epilogue coming soon

[after-avenging-hours]

Got the notification on AO3 that Heart Skip had been updated and got so excited. I need to reread everything because it's been a while since I first read it (probably back when you started posting the fic). I love your writing, and I still think about Incubus and reread that one from time to time. It's just one of those fics you can't forget about, and it's probably one of my favorite comfort reads. Thank you for sharing your work with us. I hope you're doing well!

Hello friend! Thank you for reaching out ❤️ I am doing well! And I'm super happy that my spark for writing has come back. The last couple of years I've just been busy with work and exploring alternative creative outlets, but I've always missed writing. Heart Skip and Incubus were constantly on the back of my mind. I always knew where I wanted to go with Heart Skip, but Incubus has been a real challenge. We'll have to see what the future holds, but I'm going to keep riding this creative wave as far as it goes.

Heart Skip 17 / Incubus

[after-avenging-hours]

steve rogers + leather jackets

[after-avenging-hours]

[after-avenging-hours]

hot things to say during sex

inventory is full

I’m out of range

I can’t carry any more

that spell isn’t ready yet

I need to target something first

it’s too far away

[after-avenging-hours]

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐒 as 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒/𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 as 𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒/𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐑

Captain America: The First Avenger Thunderbolts* The New Avengers

super soldiers and improper use of car doors.

[after-avenging-hours]

Thank you for the fic rec!

. ݁⋆ ۶ৎ ݁˖ . ݁ fic + writer recs 3‎ . ݁⋆ ۶ৎ ݁˖ . ݁

i’m back bitches. i read more than i write, if that’s not clear enough lmao

this edition has a fair bit of clark kent (i have NOT stopped thinking about him since seeing superman in theaters) as well as the usual bucky and logan <3

⚠️ Some NSFW works below! Minors please do not interact. The rest of you, proceed with caution.

In alphabetical order:

☘️ @after-avenging-hours wrote a filthy, hot, funny fic based on the premise of wearing lingerie under a tac suit because it’s laundry day and despite me not being a New Avenger or being Bucky’s girl, it’s still fucking relatable 🤷‍♀️

Don’t mind me, just slipping ☘️ @bucksdove ‘s filthy Bucky drabble for your consideration. Maybe don’t read it before bed, it’ll ruin your sleep schedule.

Want Clark Kent to get jealous over you because you keep getting paired with Jimmy for assignments? ☘️ @fawnindawn ‘s got you covered. I loved every single word of this, and the pay-off is MWAH MWAH MWAH

I read two bangers by ☘️ @kryptoclark : one is a fluffy, spicy, pinch-my-cheeks-I’m-dreaming fic with Clark Kent making you breakfast for breakfast, the other one is a 11k-word monster that mends the cracks in your before shattering it into a thousand pieces on the floor, and then fixes everything back again, also starring Clark Kent. She is suchhhh a talented writer and I am full-on jealous 😩

☘️ @luveline ‘s fic Clark Kent and the Lavender Skirt is a sweet 4k romp that I can just picture in my head. It also has an absolutely wholesome ending! I’d wear anything just to see him fold too

☘️ @missduval ‘s Clark Kent doesn’t know how to hold back in bed fic. I don’t need to say much on this one, I think. You’re welcome.

The MCU should hurry up and give Bucky the Alpine he deserves, so we’re one step closer to the reality of ☘️ @of-apollo ‘s cat fic. I don’t know if you know but I LOVE cats 😭 and this one just shot a thousand cupid arrows straight to my heart.

☘️ @opheliabbarnes wrote a delicious Bucky drabble (cough morning wood cough) and proves that you can fold me in half with a low word count, you just need the right words.

I think one of my first brushes with mafia boss!Bucky was through ☘️ @orellazalonia ‘s series His Sweetheart—sweet with just the right amount of hurt/comfort. I’m a sucker for that. I love how Reader is characterized there! Also, I read her Hades & Persephone inspired fic and I AM GOING TO SCREAM. THE IDEAS I GOT. THE PAIN I FELT. GAHHH

☘️ @raekensluver should get more notes just from the first line alone: Clark Kent is the kind of man who groans from the chest when you start to move just right. Ain’t that the gospel truth.

So ☘️ @retrosabers reblogged my fic and I went into a rabbit hole of her fics again 😭😭😭 Your Perfume’s Holding Me Ransom is my first read of hers and that switched the circuit in my brain that screams SCENT KINK SCENT KINK 24/7. Sex with Logan’s shirt on and you can’t keep your hands off of each other??? Possessive/jealous Logan??? YOU COOKED AND SERVED AND ATE WHILE STILL FEEDING US LOGAN WHORES THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AAAAA

☘️ @sceletaflores strikes again with this Logan fic, like a fucking homerun machine. I cannot stress how much this fic scratched parts of my brain that made me shiver (tmi? sorry). Having to watch your language while Logan ruins you and the hypocrite yaps dirty talk with expletives back at you? GIRL. You write him so well. I could hear his voice in my head (or maybe I need help) 😭😭😭

☘️ @sniktbaby ‘s fic don’t have to rush reawakens my primal need to be Logan’s little wife in a cabin far, far away. The smut is so hot, too, fuck 😭 STOP FEEDING INTO MY DELUSIONS

I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again: ☘️ @superbassbuck is an enemies-to-lovers MASTER. I’m reading Wildflower where Bucky’s a single dad + farmer, and Reader’s a florist. It’s so damn good. The other Avengers make occasional appearance, but really the star of the show is Bucky’s relationship with his boy. I love how the character dynamics are slightly different than Grade-A—you have a great talent in weaving unique relationships within the story that make it feel so real. Also I am publicly suing you for emotional damage caused specifically by chapter ten :)

I really wonder why ☘️ @unnamedrose doesn’t get more recognition because their Logan is so real. They write him so well, it’s uncanny (haha). This one where Logan asks you out is so beautiful and intimate in the way you get to read what’s in his mind. And this one with yearner!Logan? I want to keep this fic in a locket. Seriously this writer makes me remember why I love him again and again 😭💕

always happy to get recs from others!

[after-avenging-hours]

hi i love you

You're adorable. I love you too!

[after-avenging-hours]

I love heartskip so much. It’s one of my favorite fics. I’m glad to see you’re continuing it! Sending good vibes. 💙❤️💜💚

Thank you! This fic has constantly been in the back of my mind. I'm glad I finally got over the hurdle of part 17 and got them back to a happy place. I'm also super excited to share the epilogue. Working on that one now!

Heart Skip 17

[after-avenging-hours]

Hellooo!! I just want to thank you so much for writing Heartbeat, seriously, that fic lives rent free in my head 24/7!! Your writing is absolutely beautiful, fluid and compelling! I love how you wrote Steve's double identity and how it affects his relationship with reader, it breaks my heart in the most delicious way! You are a very talented and amazing writer!! I would totally buy a book from you if you ever wrote a romance!! (Heartbeat's a great idea btw just saying *wink wink)

Hellooo same anon as before!! OMG I cannot believe I have read "Heart Skip" AT LEAST three times and until now I had been reading the title as "Heartbeat" instead of "Heart Skip", LOL I'm such an idiot! Hahahaha, anyway, I love your writing very much, you're amazing <3

Haha! It's all good, I have Heartbeat as Bucky's heart soulmate AU story and Heart Skip as Steve's story. I'd like to say that I was being super clever and planned that way in advance (Beat for Bucky and Skip for Steve) but it was mostly coincidence 😂

I'm glad you love the series! It was really interesting getting to explore the challenges in a relationship with Steve, knowing how reckless he can be. (*clears throat* Mister-jumps-on-a-grenade... 👀) Especially when his life is linked to yours. I feel like in canon, Steve kind of gets away with being super reckless, because he feels like he doesn't have anyone tying him down, but that's not the case in this series.

It took me a long time (*cough* 5 years *cough*) to figure out where I wanted to go with their argument at the end of part 16. Because the reader does have valid concerns, but also Captain America is a very real part of who Steve is. So finding a compromise was a little challenging. I hope I did it justice and I'm stoked to get to share their happy ending with everyone.

(I'm also planning an epilogue that will be an Endgame-fix-it fic)

Heart Skip 17

[after-avenging-hours]

Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes | Thunderbolts* (2025)

[after-avenging-hours]

THUNDERBOLTS*

[after-avenging-hours]

⭐️

[after-avenging-hours]

We’re back, baby!

Heart Skip

Heart Skip [17]: Steve x Female!Reader

Series Summary:  A soulmate AU where from the moment you are born, two partners share a heartbeat.  They race in times of joy, slow in times of sadness, and they skip at the same moment. They share every big emotion, including heartbreak. Based on this post

Word Count: 3838

Author's Note: So... it's literally been 5 years since part 16 came out. Not sure if anyone still cares about this series, but I really wanted to do it justice and give it the proper ending it deserves, so here's to the ones that have been waiting for this story's happily ever after. Thanks for sticking around. 🍸

Warnings: Angsty beginning, happy ending, couple quarrel, apologies, some swearing, fluff

Heart Skip / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 /  Part 9 / Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 /  Part 13 / Part 14 / Part 15 / Part 16 / [Part 17] / Epilogue

The silence that filled the apartment wasn’t peaceful. It was heavy. Weighted. Tense. Like the seconds after the pin to a grenade has been pulled, but before the explosion. Like the quiet between each tick of the clock. The kind of silence where you can’t tell what comes next, but you know it will change the very foundations of your world when it arrives.

Steve doesn’t know how long he’s been sitting in the silence. He’s been shot, stabbed, thrown off of buildings…  But none of that hurts as much as this.  There’s nothing more soul-crushing than knowing that someone you love is in pain, and that you’re the cause of it. He didn’t mean to order you around like a subordinate. He doesn’t even know why he did it. He’s never thought of you as anything other than his equal. His other half. The person who kept him sane in a world that was anything but.

His muscles ache in protest when he moves to get up from the kitchen floor. The half-prepped ingredients for dinner are still scattered on the counter. He barely spares them a glance as he steps toward the hallway. He stands before the bedroom door, hand ready to knock, but he stops just short of the wood. He hears a short sniffle and stuttered breath on the other side. He feels his throat tighten and his nails dig into his palm. After a steadying breath, he finally knocks. “Can I come in?”

He hears the sound of rustling against bedsheets, but there’s no other response. He sighs and tries the handle. It turns and opens. He braces himself for what he might find on the other side and then steps through. You’re curled up on the bed with your back to the door. You’re clutching a pillow to your chest, with your knees pulled in tight. There’s a small pile of used tissues near your face. You don’t turn to face him, just curl into yourself even tighter.

He moves into the room cautiously, like he’s approaching an injured animal. He kneels at the side of the bed, arms folded on the edge of the mattress. “Can we talk?” His voice is quiet, careful. Still, you don’t respond. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” his voice breaks on the words, unable to bear the weight of his emotions.

“Do you know what Fury told me while you were infiltrating SHIELD?” you ask hollowly. You don’t wait for a response before continuing. “He said the best place for me is out of the way, where I can’t get hurt, and where I won’t jeopardize the mission.”

You hear his sharp inhale and release your own shuddering breath.

“I don’t know how to be Captain America’s soulmate. I don’t have super strength or superpowers. I can’t fly. I can barely fight... Literally every person we’ve met since we woke up has only ever seen me as your greatest liability.” Your voice cracks, and another tear runs over the bridge of your nose and across your cheek. “Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? To know that when people look at me, instead of seeing a person, they see a target on your back? Not a soulmate, but a fucking kill switch?”

“That’s…” he starts, but his voice trails off. How the hell did he have no idea that this was what you were feeling? That this was how others were making you feel?

You keep going. “And I know what you’re doing is important. I get it. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be some bird locked in a cage for safekeeping. Or a doll left on a shelf because someone else is scared that I’ll break. I want to be with you. I want to be useful. I want to help. But how do I do that without putting you in danger every time I step out of the house?”

You feel the bed dip behind you moments before Steve’s body curls around your back. His arm wraps around your waist, holding you against his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”

You release a choked sob, another tear slipping from your eye. “Because I was scared that you’d say it was true.”

“It’s not,” he insists, arm tightening against you. “Sweetheart, it’s not true. You’re not a danger to me. You’re not some exploitable weakness. You’re the source of my strength. You’re the reason I fight. You make everything worth it. I go out there every day, not because I have a death wish or want to go looking for trouble, but because I need to protect the only world that has you in it. I want to keep you safe, not by locking you away, but by stopping the people who might threaten you before they ever get the chance to do it. I want you to be free to do whatever makes you happy. Not locked in a cage. Not making yourself smaller to fit in some box. I want you shining like the sun, because that’s when you’re the most beautiful.”

Your breath still shakes when you exhale, but it’s a steadying breath. You reach for another tissue to blow your nose, then turn within Steve’s hold until you’re facing him. You look up through wet lashes to meet his stormy blue gaze. His brow is pinched with concern, but his eyes are clear, honest, and open. “So, how exactly do we do this?” you ask, your voice careful, your hopes fragile.

His hand moves to cup your cheek, thumb swiping gently over tear-strained cheeks. “We do this together.” He leans in close and places a kiss on your forehead. “If I’m going to be out there protecting the world, then I’m going to need you to protect me.”

You scoff and look at him dubiously. “How on earth am I supposed to protect you. You’re the super soldier.”

His grin is soft, but it’s also devastatingly beautiful. “You already do it every day. Just by being you. Just by being here with me. By loving me, and letting me love you back. You’re not just my soulmate. You’re my partner, my rock, my hopes and dreams. You mean everything to me. And if I ever made you doubt that, even for a second, then I’m so fucking sorry.”

Your heart skips a beat at the swear. You know he’s perfectly capable of swearing, but he usually only reserves it for when it’s truly called for. Only when the situation is dire enough. Him using that sort of language right now is just further proof regarding how serious he is.

“Just being with you keeps me grounded and focused. Feeling your heart skip and hearing your laugh gets me out of bed in the morning. You protect me mentally just by existing. And then, as for physically protecting me…” His grin turns a little cheeky. “I’m gonna need a new uniform.”

His final comment catches you so off guard that you release a short burst of laughter. “You can’t be serious,” you mutter between giggles.

His smile turns relieved. “I’m completely serious. Your suits have always kept me safe.”

You arch a brow. ��That last one sure didn’t.”

He chuckles quietly. “That last one was supposed to be hanging on a mannequin.”

Your eyes narrow accusingly. “Yeah, that’s what I said when you asked for it. And did you heed my warnings? No.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” He kisses you on the nose with his apology. “I’ll let you control my entire wardrobe from now on, if it’ll help. You can wrap me up in bubble wrap for the rest of our lives, and I’ll happily let you.”

You roll your eyes and shake your head, but there’s a hint of the smile you’re trying to fight at the corner of your lips. “Somehow, I get the feeling that bubble wrap alone isn’t going to cut it.”

His grin widens. “So, what do you say? Think you’re up to the task of protecting your soulmate while he tries to protect the rest of the world?”

You’re quiet for a long moment, absorbing everything that’s been said. Your eyes roam all over his face, from his full lips to his high cheekbones, the curve of his brow to his ridiculously long lashes. You settle back on his eyes and note the trust and vulnerability that you see in them. You already know what decision you’re going to make, but you still take the time to think it over. Your answer is going to change the course of your life, so it’s not a decision that can be made lightly. Finally, your lips part right before you begin to speak. “I want to finish the semester at my school before we move to New York.”

Steve releases the breath he had been holding and nods. “Deal.”

“And I want you to start keeping me in the loop on your missions. I understand that I might not have clearance for everything you do, but if you’re knowingly walking into a dangerous situation, I don’t want to be left in the dark. If you’re not under radio silence, I want you to check in.”

He nods again. “You got it.”

“I want to keep training with Nat. I doubt I’ll ever be Black Widow good, but if anything ever does happen and worst comes to worst, I want to be able to handle the situation without having to fully rely on you or the others.”

He chuckles at that. “I’m sure Nat would be thrilled. I’m pretty sure she likes you even more than she likes me.”

You smile briefly at his words before your face turns solemn once more. "Lastly, I want us to revisit the conversation about our future together. We don’t need to make any decisions right now, but I need you to know that I still want those things. I want to get married, buy a house, and have children. I haven’t given up on those things just because we’re in a different time and place. I can be patient, I don’t need it now, but… do you think we could still have that? Someday?”

His eyes flicker between yours, his gaze soft and warm. “Yeah, Sweetheart. We can have that. I don’t know how long it will take, but if you’re okay with waiting for me, I’ll find a way for us to get there.”

When you smile, it feels like the sun peaking out behind the clouds after days of endless rain. You lift a hand and place it delicately against the side of his neck, your thumb gently tracing the edge of his jaw. “I love you, Steve.”

His breath leaves him in a choked gasp, like his heart is so full that there’s not enough room in his chest for air. “I love you, too.” His arms pull you even tighter against him, wrapping you in a cocoon of warmth.

You pull his face to yours and slant your lips across his. He kisses back fervently, pouring all the raw emotion and love that he feels for you into it. He holds you like you’re his anchor to this plane of existence. His hand traces down your side, fingers grazing over the familiar dip of your waist and swell of your hips. He grips the back of your thigh and lifts your knee up and over the side of his own hip, then shifts forward to slot himself between the opening of your legs.

You whimper against his mouth before pulling away with a gasping breath. “Steve… as appealing as makeup sex sounds, I’d really rather we not do it next to my pile of used tissues.”

His cheeks flush with embarrassment, which only adds to his puppy dog look. “Oh, right…”

You laugh girlishly at your adorable soulmate. “Also, I’m kind of starving.”

He smiles back. “Well, we can’t have that. Let me order some takeout. It’ll probably be a lot faster than whatever mess I left in the kitchen.”

“Oooh! Can we get those crispy coconut shrimp rolls from that one Hawaiian place? And also those mango pork sliders! Ooo, and a basket of sweet potato fries with the special sauce.”

Steve's eyes glow with humor as he looks down at you. “Anything else?”

Your cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. “No, just whatever you want. You can have some of my fries, but you better get your own coconut shrimp rolls.”

He laughs and gives you one last kiss before sitting up and shuffling off the bed. “I’ll call the order in right now.”

“Thank you!” you call after his retreating figure. He flashes one last grin over his shoulder before disappearing out the door. You push yourself up with a soft groan of protest and look around the bedroom that’s been your home for roughly the last two years. You know you’ll always cherish the memories that were created in this room, but now that you’ve had this talk with Steve, you’re starting to look forward to moving back to New York with him. You know the city won’t be the same anymore, but you’re looking forward to exploring it together with Steve. You have no idea what exactly the future has in store for the two of you, but it’s so much easier to face the unknown when you’re not doing it alone.

As soon as your classes have finished for the semester, you and Steve are in full packing mode. Boxes are stacked on just about every surface and are shoved into the corners of every room. Rolls of fabrics and sewing supplies fill the majority of your boxes, while books and vinyl records fill Steve’s. He’s currently going through the kitchen, wrapping your ceramic mugs in paper before carefully layering them in a box. You’ve just finished going through the closet, packing your and Steve’s clothes into different suitcases, plastic bins, and even more boxes.

You release a long sigh while stretching out your sore back muscles. Looking around the room, you try to figure out what you want to tackle next. Your eyes land on your bedside drawer. You use a Sharpie to write out on a new box what you’re putting into it before folding the cardboard and taping the bottom. You empty out both drawers into the box, rather unceremoniously. The top drawer contains a spare phone charger, a couple of half-used ChapSticks, a jar of loose change, some fashionable neck scarves, and several other little knick-knacks that you honestly forgot were even in there. The bottom drawer contains some of the more risqué items that you own, which you shove into the box as quickly as possible, while your cheeks burst into flames, even though no one is around to even see them.

Once that’s done, you seal the box with tape, then get a second box ready and move to the table on Steve’s side of the bed. “Hey, Steve? I’m going to empty your bedside table!” you call out to him while kneeling in front of it.

“Okay!” he responds. You’ve already opened the top drawer and started moving items into the box when Steve calls out again. “No! Wait!” He dashes out of the kitchen and sprints down the hall, gripping the door frame as leverage to come flying into the room, but he’s too late. You’re already staring down at the small velvet box tucked into the back of the drawer.

For a moment, everything comes to a stop, like even time itself is holding its breath. You stare at the box, while he stares at you, both of your hearts pounding erratically, and you’re not sure who is the one responsible for it. Your hand shakes as you reach for the box. You lift it out of the drawer, holding it with such care, it makes his chest ache. “Is this—” you begin to ask before your voice cracks. You turn and look at him from over your shoulder.

“Exactly what you think it is?” His shoulders drop in defeat, but the corner of his mouth lifts into a tilted smile. “Yeah,” he confirms.

Your breath catches in your throat. “How long have you had this?” Your thumb swipes over the velvet, feeling the smooth material rub against the pad of your finger.

He clears his throat, ears turning pink. “About a month before the battle at the Triskelion.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I was waiting for the right time to ask, but then after we had that argument, I was worried you’d think I was only asking because of what you said, so I figured I’d wait some more. But then I wasn’t sure how long was long enough to wait, and I almost asked you several times, but it never really felt like the right moment—”

“You can ask me now,” you cut into his rambling with a tentative smile.

“I—what?” he looks at you with wide eyes, guard completely dropped. His heart skips a beat, and you feel it in your chest.

Your eyes glow with amusement. You stand and step closer to him, holding the box out.

He takes it, eyes flashing between it and you repeatedly. “Now? Like right now?”

You giggle as he only gets more flustered. “Do you want to marry me?”

He coughs awkwardly, his entire face turning red at this point. “I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be my line.”

“Then ask, Steve.”

He takes your hand in his and narrows his eyes into an accusatory glare. “You know, I had a plan. I was going to take you to a nice restaurant, there was going to be chocolate and flowers, maybe dancing.” As he speaks, he’s slowly dropping down to one knee. “You’re really missing out.”

You’re grinning from ear to ear, eyes full of affection and warmth. “I don’t think I’m missing anything.”

Steve is suddenly grateful that he’s already kneeling, because those words alone were enough to turn his legs to jelly. However, they also seem to have turned his mind completely blank. “I had an entire speech planned, but now that we’re here, I can’t remember what any of it is.” He stares up at you with all the wonder of a child seeing fireworks for the first time. “All I know is that the heart in my chest beats for you. It beats because of you. I love you more than I thought was even possible. You see me in a way no one else ever did. You are truly my soulmate in every sense of the word. You make me a better person, and you call me out when I’m being an idiot. I need you like I need air to breathe or blood in my veins. I want to spend every day of the rest of our lives finding new ways to make you smile. So, what do you say? Will you marry me?”

He flips up the lid of the box, revealing a gorgeous princess-cut engagement ring with a glittering white diamond set against delicate filigree. It’s elegant, and timeless, and utterly perfect.

“Yes…” The single word barely comes out of your tightening throat, but he hears it just fine. He pulls the ring out of the box and slips it onto your finger. You crumple to your knees in front of him, arms wrapping around his neck. He wraps one arm around your waist, the other cradling the back of your head, while he kisses you breathless. “I love you,” you whisper against his lips.

“I’m going to make you mine forever,” he vows.

Your laugh tickles his cheeks. “You’re already my forever.”

Seven months later, you’re walking down the aisle of a small chapel in Brooklyn, wearing a dress you designed and made yourself, toward the man whose heart beats in your chest. Sam stands to his left, grinning broadly, and gives you a wink as you step up to the altar. Natasha takes your bouquet and stands behind you as you hold Steve’s hand in yours and promise yourself to him for all of eternity. The other Avengers and a few trusted friends fill the pews to bear witness to the love that has surpassed time itself.

They’ve all fully accepted you as part of the team. You’re now the official designer of all of their uniforms. Even Tony had been impressed by the care and attention to detail you put into your work, so he told Pepper about you, and now she’s giving you entrepreneur lessons and is backing your new fashion line as an investor. You named your business Heart Skip Apparel and have both a vintage-inspired line and an activewear line. Your activewear became an overnight sensation after a video of Natasha wearing your sports bra and leggings while jogging through Central Park went viral online. You had no idea that moving back to New York was going to result in such a wild outcome, but you don’t regret it. And Steve was there with you every step of the way, encouraging you to try new things and jump right in.

He lifts your veil and looks at you with so much love and adoration, you feel it all the way down to your toes. As the two of you are pronounced husband and wife, your heart skips a beat, and you smile when you feel his skip in response. He leans in and seals your vows with the first kiss of many that you’ll share with your husband. You don’t even hear the claps and cheers from your friends, because you’re so lost in him.

Across the street from the chapel, a lone figure watches the event through a scope from a shadowed window. The soft smile on his face feels foreign, but nice. “Congratulations, Punk,” he speaks softly to the empty room. He knew that Steve would have preferred to have him standing up at the altar with him, but this was the closest Bucky would allow himself to get right now. He was still struggling to piece together fractions of memories and bring some semblance of control back into his own grasp. He was slowly learning how to be Bucky Barnes again instead of The Asset, but there were still things he needed to do before he could allow himself to re-enter Steve’s life. First and foremost, he needed to track down and get back his own soulmate from the shattered remains of HYDRA. He’d only recently gotten a lead that Jack Rollins had taken her to Romania. By tomorrow morning, he was planning to be on the first flight out using a false passport and name. He wishes you and Steve the best possible future, but he’s got his own future to run toward.

[End of Main Story Line]

You can read about Bucky and his soulmate in Heartbeat

Heart Skip epilogue coming soon

[after-avenging-hours]

Heart Skip

Heart Skip [17]: Steve x Female!Reader

Series Summary:  A soulmate AU where from the moment you are born, two partners share a heartbeat.  They race in times of joy, slow in times of sadness, and they skip at the same moment. They share every big emotion, including heartbreak. Based on this post

Word Count: 3838

Author's Note: So... it's literally been 5 years since part 16 came out. Not sure if anyone still cares about this series, but I really wanted to do it justice and give it the proper ending it deserves, so here's to the ones that have been waiting for this story's happily ever after. Thanks for sticking around. 🍸

Warnings: Angsty beginning, happy ending, couple quarrel, apologies, some swearing, fluff

Heart Skip / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 /  Part 9 / Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 /  Part 13 / Part 14 / Part 15 / Part 16 / [Part 17] / Epilogue

The silence that filled the apartment wasn’t peaceful. It was heavy. Weighted. Tense. Like the seconds after the pin to a grenade has been pulled, but before the explosion. Like the quiet between each tick of the clock. The kind of silence where you can’t tell what comes next, but you know it will change the very foundations of your world when it arrives.

Steve doesn’t know how long he’s been sitting in the silence. He’s been shot, stabbed, thrown off of buildings…  But none of that hurts as much as this.  There’s nothing more soul-crushing than knowing that someone you love is in pain, and that you’re the cause of it. He didn’t mean to order you around like a subordinate. He doesn’t even know why he did it. He’s never thought of you as anything other than his equal. His other half. The person who kept him sane in a world that was anything but.

His muscles ache in protest when he moves to get up from the kitchen floor. The half-prepped ingredients for dinner are still scattered on the counter. He barely spares them a glance as he steps toward the hallway. He stands before the bedroom door, hand ready to knock, but he stops just short of the wood. He hears a short sniffle and stuttered breath on the other side. He feels his throat tighten and his nails dig into his palm. After a steadying breath, he finally knocks. “Can I come in?”

He hears the sound of rustling against bedsheets, but there’s no other response. He sighs and tries the handle. It turns and opens. He braces himself for what he might find on the other side and then steps through. You’re curled up on the bed with your back to the door. You’re clutching a pillow to your chest, with your knees pulled in tight. There’s a small pile of used tissues near your face. You don’t turn to face him, just curl into yourself even tighter.

He moves into the room cautiously, like he’s approaching an injured animal. He kneels at the side of the bed, arms folded on the edge of the mattress. “Can we talk?” His voice is quiet, careful. Still, you don’t respond. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” his voice breaks on the words, unable to bear the weight of his emotions.

“Do you know what Fury told me while you were infiltrating SHIELD?” you ask hollowly. You don’t wait for a response before continuing. “He said the best place for me is out of the way, where I can’t get hurt, and where I won’t jeopardize the mission.”

You hear his sharp inhale and release your own shuddering breath.

“I don’t know how to be Captain America’s soulmate. I don’t have super strength or superpowers. I can’t fly. I can barely fight... Literally every person we’ve met since we woke up has only ever seen me as your greatest liability.” Your voice cracks, and another tear runs over the bridge of your nose and across your cheek. “Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? To know that when people look at me, instead of seeing a person, they see a target on your back? Not a soulmate, but a fucking kill switch?”

“That’s…” he starts, but his voice trails off. How the hell did he have no idea that this was what you were feeling? That this was how others were making you feel?

You keep going. “And I know what you’re doing is important. I get it. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be some bird locked in a cage for safekeeping. Or a doll left on a shelf because someone else is scared that I’ll break. I want to be with you. I want to be useful. I want to help. But how do I do that without putting you in danger every time I step out of the house?”

You feel the bed dip behind you moments before Steve’s body curls around your back. His arm wraps around your waist, holding you against his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”

You release a choked sob, another tear slipping from your eye. “Because I was scared that you’d say it was true.”

“It’s not,” he insists, arm tightening against you. “Sweetheart, it’s not true. You’re not a danger to me. You’re not some exploitable weakness. You’re the source of my strength. You’re the reason I fight. You make everything worth it. I go out there every day, not because I have a death wish or want to go looking for trouble, but because I need to protect the only world that has you in it. I want to keep you safe, not by locking you away, but by stopping the people who might threaten you before they ever get the chance to do it. I want you to be free to do whatever makes you happy. Not locked in a cage. Not making yourself smaller to fit in some box. I want you shining like the sun, because that’s when you’re the most beautiful.”

Your breath still shakes when you exhale, but it’s a steadying breath. You reach for another tissue to blow your nose, then turn within Steve’s hold until you’re facing him. You look up through wet lashes to meet his stormy blue gaze. His brow is pinched with concern, but his eyes are clear, honest, and open. “So, how exactly do we do this?” you ask, your voice careful, your hopes fragile.

His hand moves to cup your cheek, thumb swiping gently over tear-strained cheeks. “We do this together.” He leans in close and places a kiss on your forehead. “If I’m going to be out there protecting the world, then I’m going to need you to protect me.”

You scoff and look at him dubiously. “How on earth am I supposed to protect you. You’re the super soldier.”

His grin is soft, but it’s also devastatingly beautiful. “You already do it every day. Just by being you. Just by being here with me. By loving me, and letting me love you back. You’re not just my soulmate. You’re my partner, my rock, my hopes and dreams. You mean everything to me. And if I ever made you doubt that, even for a second, then I’m so fucking sorry.”

Your heart skips a beat at the swear. You know he’s perfectly capable of swearing, but he usually only reserves it for when it’s truly called for. Only when the situation is dire enough. Him using that sort of language right now is just further proof regarding how serious he is.

“Just being with you keeps me grounded and focused. Feeling your heart skip and hearing your laugh gets me out of bed in the morning. You protect me mentally just by existing. And then, as for physically protecting me…” His grin turns a little cheeky. “I’m gonna need a new uniform.”

His final comment catches you so off guard that you release a short burst of laughter. “You can’t be serious,” you mutter between giggles.

His smile turns relieved. “I’m completely serious. Your suits have always kept me safe.”

You arch a brow. “That last one sure didn’t.”

He chuckles quietly. “That last one was supposed to be hanging on a mannequin.”

Your eyes narrow accusingly. “Yeah, that’s what I said when you asked for it. And did you heed my warnings? No.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” He kisses you on the nose with his apology. “I’ll let you control my entire wardrobe from now on, if it’ll help. You can wrap me up in bubble wrap for the rest of our lives, and I’ll happily let you.”

You roll your eyes and shake your head, but there’s a hint of the smile you’re trying to fight at the corner of your lips. “Somehow, I get the feeling that bubble wrap alone isn’t going to cut it.”

His grin widens. “So, what do you say? Think you’re up to the task of protecting your soulmate while he tries to protect the rest of the world?”

You’re quiet for a long moment, absorbing everything that’s been said. Your eyes roam all over his face, from his full lips to his high cheekbones, the curve of his brow to his ridiculously long lashes. You settle back on his eyes and note the trust and vulnerability that you see in them. You already know what decision you’re going to make, but you still take the time to think it over. Your answer is going to change the course of your life, so it’s not a decision that can be made lightly. Finally, your lips part right before you begin to speak. “I want to finish the semester at my school before we move to New York.”

Steve releases the breath he had been holding and nods. “Deal.”

“And I want you to start keeping me in the loop on your missions. I understand that I might not have clearance for everything you do, but if you’re knowingly walking into a dangerous situation, I don’t want to be left in the dark. If you’re not under radio silence, I want you to check in.”

He nods again. “You got it.”

“I want to keep training with Nat. I doubt I’ll ever be Black Widow good, but if anything ever does happen and worst comes to worst, I want to be able to handle the situation without having to fully rely on you or the others.”

He chuckles at that. “I’m sure Nat would be thrilled. I’m pretty sure she likes you even more than she likes me.”

You smile briefly at his words before your face turns solemn once more. "Lastly, I want us to revisit the conversation about our future together. We don’t need to make any decisions right now, but I need you to know that I still want those things. I want to get married, buy a house, and have children. I haven’t given up on those things just because we’re in a different time and place. I can be patient, I don’t need it now, but… do you think we could still have that? Someday?”

His eyes flicker between yours, his gaze soft and warm. “Yeah, Sweetheart. We can have that. I don’t know how long it will take, but if you’re okay with waiting for me, I’ll find a way for us to get there.”

When you smile, it feels like the sun peaking out behind the clouds after days of endless rain. You lift a hand and place it delicately against the side of his neck, your thumb gently tracing the edge of his jaw. “I love you, Steve.”

His breath leaves him in a choked gasp, like his heart is so full that there’s not enough room in his chest for air. “I love you, too.” His arms pull you even tighter against him, wrapping you in a cocoon of warmth.

You pull his face to yours and slant your lips across his. He kisses back fervently, pouring all the raw emotion and love that he feels for you into it. He holds you like you’re his anchor to this plane of existence. His hand traces down your side, fingers grazing over the familiar dip of your waist and swell of your hips. He grips the back of your thigh and lifts your knee up and over the side of his own hip, then shifts forward to slot himself between the opening of your legs.

You whimper against his mouth before pulling away with a gasping breath. “Steve… as appealing as makeup sex sounds, I’d really rather we not do it next to my pile of used tissues.”

His cheeks flush with embarrassment, which only adds to his puppy dog look. “Oh, right…”

You laugh girlishly at your adorable soulmate. “Also, I’m kind of starving.”

He smiles back. “Well, we can’t have that. Let me order some takeout. It’ll probably be a lot faster than whatever mess I left in the kitchen.”

“Oooh! Can we get those crispy coconut shrimp rolls from that one Hawaiian place? And also those mango pork sliders! Ooo, and a basket of sweet potato fries with the special sauce.”

Steve's eyes glow with humor as he looks down at you. “Anything else?”

Your cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. “No, just whatever you want. You can have some of my fries, but you better get your own coconut shrimp rolls.”

He laughs and gives you one last kiss before sitting up and shuffling off the bed. “I’ll call the order in right now.”

“Thank you!” you call after his retreating figure. He flashes one last grin over his shoulder before disappearing out the door. You push yourself up with a soft groan of protest and look around the bedroom that’s been your home for roughly the last two years. You know you’ll always cherish the memories that were created in this room, but now that you’ve had this talk with Steve, you’re starting to look forward to moving back to New York with him. You know the city won’t be the same anymore, but you’re looking forward to exploring it together with Steve. You have no idea what exactly the future has in store for the two of you, but it’s so much easier to face the unknown when you’re not doing it alone.

As soon as your classes have finished for the semester, you and Steve are in full packing mode. Boxes are stacked on just about every surface and are shoved into the corners of every room. Rolls of fabrics and sewing supplies fill the majority of your boxes, while books and vinyl records fill Steve’s. He’s currently going through the kitchen, wrapping your ceramic mugs in paper before carefully layering them in a box. You’ve just finished going through the closet, packing your and Steve’s clothes into different suitcases, plastic bins, and even more boxes.

You release a long sigh while stretching out your sore back muscles. Looking around the room, you try to figure out what you want to tackle next. Your eyes land on your bedside drawer. You use a Sharpie to write out on a new box what you’re putting into it before folding the cardboard and taping the bottom. You empty out both drawers into the box, rather unceremoniously. The top drawer contains a spare phone charger, a couple of half-used ChapSticks, a jar of loose change, some fashionable neck scarves, and several other little knick-knacks that you honestly forgot were even in there. The bottom drawer contains some of the more risqué items that you own, which you shove into the box as quickly as possible, while your cheeks burst into flames, even though no one is around to even see them.

Once that’s done, you seal the box with tape, then get a second box ready and move to the table on Steve’s side of the bed. “Hey, Steve? I’m going to empty your bedside table!” you call out to him while kneeling in front of it.

“Okay!” he responds. You’ve already opened the top drawer and started moving items into the box when Steve calls out again. “No! Wait!” He dashes out of the kitchen and sprints down the hall, gripping the door frame as leverage to come flying into the room, but he’s too late. You’re already staring down at the small velvet box tucked into the back of the drawer.

For a moment, everything comes to a stop, like even time itself is holding its breath. You stare at the box, while he stares at you, both of your hearts pounding erratically, and you’re not sure who is the one responsible for it. Your hand shakes as you reach for the box. You lift it out of the drawer, holding it with such care, it makes his chest ache. “Is this—” you begin to ask before your voice cracks. You turn and look at him from over your shoulder.

“Exactly what you think it is?” His shoulders drop in defeat, but the corner of his mouth lifts into a tilted smile. “Yeah,” he confirms.

Your breath catches in your throat. “How long have you had this?” Your thumb swipes over the velvet, feeling the smooth material rub against the pad of your finger.

He clears his throat, ears turning pink. “About a month before the battle at the Triskelion.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I was waiting for the right time to ask, but then after we had that argument, I was worried you’d think I was only asking because of what you said, so I figured I’d wait some more. But then I wasn’t sure how long was long enough to wait, and I almost asked you several times, but it never really felt like the right moment—”

“You can ask me now,” you cut into his rambling with a tentative smile.

“I—what?” he looks at you with wide eyes, guard completely dropped. His heart skips a beat, and you feel it in your chest.

Your eyes glow with amusement. You stand and step closer to him, holding the box out.

He takes it, eyes flashing between it and you repeatedly. “Now? Like right now?”

You giggle as he only gets more flustered. “Do you want to marry me?”

He coughs awkwardly, his entire face turning red at this point. “I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be my line.”

“Then ask, Steve.”

He takes your hand in his and narrows his eyes into an accusatory glare. “You know, I had a plan. I was going to take you to a nice restaurant, there was going to be chocolate and flowers, maybe dancing.” As he speaks, he’s slowly dropping down to one knee. “You’re really missing out.”

You’re grinning from ear to ear, eyes full of affection and warmth. “I don’t think I’m missing anything.”

Steve is suddenly grateful that he’s already kneeling, because those words alone were enough to turn his legs to jelly. However, they also seem to have turned his mind completely blank. “I had an entire speech planned, but now that we’re here, I can’t remember what any of it is.” He stares up at you with all the wonder of a child seeing fireworks for the first time. “All I know is that the heart in my chest beats for you. It beats because of you. I love you more than I thought was even possible. You see me in a way no one else ever did. You are truly my soulmate in every sense of the word. You make me a better person, and you call me out when I’m being an idiot. I need you like I need air to breathe or blood in my veins. I want to spend every day of the rest of our lives finding new ways to make you smile. So, what do you say? Will you marry me?”

He flips up the lid of the box, revealing a gorgeous princess-cut engagement ring with a glittering white diamond set against delicate filigree. It’s elegant, and timeless, and utterly perfect.

“Yes…” The single word barely comes out of your tightening throat, but he hears it just fine. He pulls the ring out of the box and slips it onto your finger. You crumple to your knees in front of him, arms wrapping around his neck. He wraps one arm around your waist, the other cradling the back of your head, while he kisses you breathless. “I love you,” you whisper against his lips.

“I’m going to make you mine forever,” he vows.

Your laugh tickles his cheeks. “You’re already my forever.”

Seven months later, you’re walking down the aisle of a small chapel in Brooklyn, wearing a dress you designed and made yourself, toward the man whose heart beats in your chest. Sam stands to his left, grinning broadly, and gives you a wink as you step up to the altar. Natasha takes your bouquet and stands behind you as you hold Steve’s hand in yours and promise yourself to him for all of eternity. The other Avengers and a few trusted friends fill the pews to bear witness to the love that has surpassed time itself.

They’ve all fully accepted you as part of the team. You’re now the official designer of all of their uniforms. Even Tony had been impressed by the care and attention to detail you put into your work, so he told Pepper about you, and now she’s giving you entrepreneur lessons and is backing your new fashion line as an investor. You named your business Heart Skip Apparel and have both a vintage-inspired line and an activewear line. Your activewear became an overnight sensation after a video of Natasha wearing your sports bra and leggings while jogging through Central Park went viral online. You had no idea that moving back to New York was going to result in such a wild outcome, but you don’t regret it. And Steve was there with you every step of the way, encouraging you to try new things and jump right in.

He lifts your veil and looks at you with so much love and adoration, you feel it all the way down to your toes. As the two of you are pronounced husband and wife, your heart skips a beat, and you smile when you feel his skip in response. He leans in and seals your vows with the first kiss of many that you’ll share with your husband. You don’t even hear the claps and cheers from your friends, because you’re so lost in him.

Across the street from the chapel, a lone figure watches the event through a scope from a shadowed window. The soft smile on his face feels foreign, but nice. “Congratulations, Punk,” he speaks softly to the empty room. He knew that Steve would have preferred to have him standing up at the altar with him, but this was the closest Bucky would allow himself to get right now. He was still struggling to piece together fractions of memories and bring some semblance of control back into his own grasp. He was slowly learning how to be Bucky Barnes again instead of The Asset, but there were still things he needed to do before he could allow himself to re-enter Steve’s life. First and foremost, he needed to track down and get back his own soulmate from the shattered remains of HYDRA. He’d only recently gotten a lead that Jack Rollins had taken her to Romania. By tomorrow morning, he was planning to be on the first flight out using a false passport and name. He wishes you and Steve the best possible future, but he’s got his own future to run toward.

[End of Main Story Line]

You can read about Bucky and his soulmate in Heartbeat

Heart Skip epilogue coming soon

[after-avenging-hours]

Haha, yep! Part 16 went up in August of 2020. Time sure flies 😅 I also had to go back and give the series a reread before sitting down to write the next part, lol!

OH MY GOD YOU'RE BACK!!! YOUR SOULMATE STORY WAS LIKE ONE OF THE FIRST I READ AFTER JOINING TUMBLR BACK IN 2017!!!

Hi! Hello! Yes, I am back and after a five year hiatus, I have just posted the next part to that very soulmate story 😅 My deepest apologies for stopping it at literally the worst part of the story, but I can promise you that Steve and the reader are no longer arguing and are, in fact, achieving their happily ever after 💞